Slicing machine

Abstract

An add-on device for a slicing machine for inserting a separation sheet in between food slices comprises a container containing (a) a sheet tray, (b) a pack of separation sheets positioned on the sheet tray, the pack of separation sheets comprises at least two types of separation sheets, each having a cut-out portion at a different location to allow contacting a second in-line sheet through a top sheet, the separation sheets are organized in said container in an alternating manner, (c) a mechanic/electro-mechanic mechanism for pushing the sheet tray upwards, (d) a three-position lever, the three-position lever comprises a left wing, a right wing and a lever actuator, the lever actuator rotates clockwise and counterclockwise across its longitudinal axis in an alternating manner, and (e) an electronic system to monitor, control, and operate the operation of the add-on device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An add-on device for a slicing machine for inserting a separation sheet in between food slices comprising:
 (a) a container containing a sheet tray, 
 (b) a pack of separation sheets positioned on said sheet tray, and 
 (c) a mechanic/electro-mechanic mechanism for pushing said sheet tray upwards for loading and for preparing the pack of separation sheets for insertion in between said food slices, and 
 (d) a three-position lever, said three-position lever comprising a left wing, a right wing and a lever actuator, said lever actuator rotating clockwise and counterclockwise across its longitudinal axis in an alternating manner, 
 wherein said pack of separation sheets comprises at least two types of separation sheets, a separation sheet of a first type and a separation sheet of a second type, each having a cut-out portion at a different location to allow contacting a second in-line sheet through a top sheet, said separation sheets being organized in said container in an alternating manner wherein a separation sheet of the first type is above a separation sheet of the second type or vice versa. 
 
     
     
       2. The add-on device of  claim 1 , further comprising a system to monitor, control, and operate the operation of said add-on device. 
     
     
       3. The add-on device of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanic/electro-mechanic mechanism comprises an electromechanical actuator, a linear screw and a mechanical arm, said electromechanical actuator drives the linear screw in a straight line and the linear screw drives the mechanical arm which elevates the sheet tray for loading and for preparing the pack of separation sheets for insertion in between said food slices. 
     
     
       4. The add-on device of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanic/electro-mechanic mechanism comprises a spring. 
     
     
       5. The add-on device of  claim 2 , wherein the three-position lever further comprises either a right pressure sensor or proximity sensor located on the right wing of said three-position lever and either a left pressure sensor or proximity sensor located on the left wing of the three-position lever for controlling the rotation angle of the actuator. 
     
     
       6. The add-on device of  claim 2 , wherein said lever actuator rotates clockwise till the right wing contacts a second in-line sheet through the cut-out portion of a top sheet to keep said second in-line sheet in place, as the top sheet is ready to be attached to a food slice, the lever actuator rotates counterclockwise till the left wing contacts the sheet underneath the top sheet to keep said sheet in place, said lever actuator rotates to and is kept at a middle position while said container is being filed with said separation sheets. 
     
     
       7. The add-on device of  claim 6 , wherein a preferred connecting means allows varying the distance between the add-on device and the slicing apparatus to allow slicing food at various thicknesses. 
     
     
       8. The add-on device of  claim 1  further comprises at least one of:
 an open chamber sensor indicating when the container is open, 
 a paper tray level sensor indicating the position of the tray, and 
 an empty tray sensor indicating when there are no separation sheets in said container. 
 
     
     
       9. The add-on device of  claim 2 , further comprising a lever encoder indicating the position of the three-position lever. 
     
     
       10. The add-on device of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic system of the add-on device comprises micro-controller unit or processing unit which carries an operation code of the add-on device, receives sensory inputs and outputs commands to said actuators. 
     
     
       11. The add-on device of  claim 2  wherein the electronic system of the add-on device further comprises power supply circuit(s), a communication terminal to enable debugging and calibration procedures, and a display port for user interface and messages. 
     
     
       12. The add-on device of  claim 1 , wherein the add-on device further comprises a departure sensor for detecting a departure of said separation sheet attached to a food slice for initiating movement of a next on-line sheet. 
     
     
       13. An add-on device for a slicing machine for inserting a separation sheet in between food slices comprising:
 (a) a container containing a sheet tray, 
 (b) a pack of separation sheets positioned on said sheet tray, 
 (c) a mechanic/electro-mechanic mechanism for pushing said sheet tray upwards for loading and for preparing the pack of separation sheets for insertion in between said food slices, 
 (d) a three-position lever, said three-position lever comprising a left wing, a right wing and a lever actuator, said lever actuator rotating clockwise and counterclockwise across its longitudinal axis in an alternating manner, and 
 (e) an electronic system to monitor, control, and operate the operation of said add-on device, 
 wherein said pack of separation sheets comprises at least two types of separation sheets, a separation sheet of a first type and a separation sheet of a second type, each having a cut-out portion at a different location to allow contacting a second in-line sheet through a top sheet, said separation sheets being organized in said container in an alternating manner wherein a separation sheet of the first type is above a separation sheet of the second type or vice versa.